Contracted To You-Chapter 63: Be Mine

Ezra and Evie settled at the small dining table in her apartment, a cozy setup for two as they faced each other, savoring their avocado toast and fried egg.

Ezra’s gaze was unwavering, intent on watching her eat, a sense of fulfillment washing over him. It had been too long since he had the chance to observe Evie like this. She met his eyes, her resolve wavering under the intensity of his stare.

"This has been a while," Ezra began, his hand moving across the table to grasp hers, his touch gentle yet firm.

"Hmm," Evie replied, her shyness evident as she averted her gaze for a moment. Ezra seemed poised to speak his mind, perhaps wanting to address the misunderstanding that had caused their separation—a conversation that was long overdue.

"Come here," Ezra commanded gently, and Evie blinked in surprise. "I want to talk to you, Evie," he reiterated softly.

Evie chuckled, covering her lips with her hand. "You can do that right here. I have ears, don’t I?" she quipped playfully, but Ezra shot her a pointed look.

When she didn’t respond, he stood up from his chair, moved behind her, and without warning, he lifted both her and the chair, effortlessly shifting them to the spot beside him. Evie’s eyes widened in astonishment as he settled next to her, an arm draped around her shoulder.

"Hey," Evie protested, her cheeks tinged red with embarrassment. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"What?" Ezra asked, feigning innocence.

"Don’t you dare do that again," she retorted, though he simply raised an eyebrow in response.

"How could you just lift me up like that? You make me feel like a little baby," she added, then followed up with, "How are you so strong? You didn’t even grunt."

In rom-coms, wouldn’t the guy simply tug her chair? But Ezra had carried her and the seat, lifting her as if she were weightless, which both annoyed and amused her.

"Maybe you are a baby," he muttered under his breath, returning to his meal with casual indifference.

Despite her irritation, Evie couldn’t deny that she found his strength appealing.

Ezra’s physique wasn’t overly muscular, lacking the exaggerated bulk common among gym-goers. He had a lean but defined build, tall with a sturdy chest, a sharp jawline, and a toned stomach. She had caught glimpses of that physique during their nights together, and the memory made her blush.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat, redirecting her thoughts. "So, what do you want to say?" she asked, locking her eyes onto his.

Ezra took a moment before responding, his gaze penetrating. "How are you doing?" he asked.

Evie snorted lightly. "Well, I’m fine." As if saying, as you can see to him.

"I mean everything that has happened recently. You seemed unfazed, like you could let this go at any moment, even with a contract between us. I just want to know if you’re really okay or if you’re hiding something," Ezra pressed.

"You think too much," Evie countered, a sigh escaping her. "I’ve been busy focusing on my happiness, doing things I enjoy, and tuning out the negativity. I’m handling it, and I’m fine, so you don’t need to worry, Ezra," she assured him.

His lips curled into a small smirk. "All while making me a mad man."

"I was worried about you," he admitted, frustration creeping into his tone. He had been restless with worry while Evie ignored his calls and texts. He missed her laughter, her presence, the little things that reminded him of her.

Evie snorted at his admission, yet a pulse of emotion stirred within her. Could her absence truly have impacted him that much? It seemed Ezra was serious about wanting her in his life.

"When I woke up this morning," Evie started, breaking the silence, and Ezra nodded, encouraging her to continue. "I saw a lot of news online about Dawn. They said Noah isn’t your child. Is that true?" she asked.

"Yes," Ezra replied firmly. "I had to verify it because I suspected something was amiss. The results confirmed it: Noah isn’t my child."

’Oh,’ Evie thought, processing the news he had just given her.

"I didn’t want to talk about it last night because I was drained. All I wanted was a moment of peace amidst all the chaos." He added, and Evie swallowed hard; did he see her as a source of peace?

"So what happens now?" Evie asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It’s impossible for Dawn and me to stay together after this. We were never truly meant for each other, and she knows it," Ezra explained.

So, they were done, Evie thought. What would happen next? "Poor woman," she said, and Ezra narrowed his eyes at her.

"Are you seriously sympathizing with her? After everything she said and how she tried to tear us apart?" Ezra’s tone was cool but intense.

Evie responded to his questions, "What she did was terrible, but I can’t help feeling pity for her. I know what it’s like to be the target of everyone’s disdain—it’s unbearable. I feel for her, but beyond that, I have no other feelings."

"And you know, Ezra, there was never a real ’us.’ It was all fake," she pointed out, emphasizing her point.

A heavy silence hung between them as Ezra processed her words. "I know," he finally said, and then he turned to face her, "That’s why I’m asking you, Evie..."

Her heart pounded wildly as she braced for what was next.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" Ezra asked, and Evie’s breath caught in her throat.

He took her hand gently, and suddenly the room felt small, the heat between them palpable.

"Will you be my official girlfriend?" he urged, brushing his thumb lightly over her hand.

Her heart raced at the thought, thrilled at the possibility of calling Ezra hers and him calling her his. She wanted to touch him, see him smile, experience all the little moments they could share.

Wasn’t this exactly what she had wanted? She couldn’t let this slip away; she wouldn’t allow it. Her chest rose and fell softly as she locked eyes with him.

"Evie," Ezra said, clearly waiting for her response. He was open to anything. All he needed was a word from her.

"Ezra, I..." she stammered, feeling frustrated with herself. This wasn’t the way she had planned it. She just needed to say yes.

Ezra stood up, and she followed him with her gaze as he cupped her cheeks, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"I get it, Evie. It may seem too soon, and you might not be on the same page as I am, but I’m done waiting. My feelings for you are real, and what Dawn did made me realize just how much I miss and care for you." His thumb caressed her cheek, sending waves of confusion and longing through her.

This man was making it hard to concentrate. The way he touched her and looking at her, it felt intoxicating. How could she say no?

"I miss you, Evie," he continued. "I miss your laughter, your smile, our playful banter. I miss holding you close, and when I’m not with you, it feels like my peace has been taken away. That’s why I’m asking you to be mine, Evie."

Be his. The thought echoed in her mind.

In that moment, she recalled when Ruby had posed a similar question when they’d been lounging side by side on the rug, "If you found out that Ezra was innocent—if he didn’t have a child and Dawn had just concocted this to come between you—would you go back to him?"

At the time, Evie had rolled her eyes. "That’s impossible"

"I know," Ruby had replied, urging her to be more serious. "But what if?"

Evie had averted her gaze. She didn’t know if that would ever happen, but what if—just like Ruby said—would she return to Ezra, or would she walk away from the complications? Their relationship had been fake, and with Dawn and her son in the picture, it felt overwhelming. She had chosen to walk away before, but faced with this new reality, would she go back to Ezra?

Evie knew what she wanted. She liked Ezra, so why hadn’t she fought for him? Why hadn’t she trusted him enough to go after what she desired? Those thoughts circled in her mind.

At that moment, confusion washed over her. She liked Ezra, yet she had distanced herself from all the chaos to protect her heart. But wasn’t self-preservation what she always believed in? No matter how deeply she cared for Ezra, she refused to lose herself in the process. If it was meant to be, they would be together. If not, that was beyond her control.

Now, as Ezra stood before her, tenderly holding her cheeks and gazing into her eyes, Evie felt her resolve strengthen. "I promise you, Evie, nothing will come between us. I’ll make you happy and ensure you never have regrets," he declared, his eyes searching hers.

This was the moment. It was now or never. She liked Ezra, and he liked her. Nothing should stand in their way. With conviction, she declared, "Yes, Ezra."

"What?" Ezra asked, his voice low, his surprise evident as he sought clarification, desperate to confirm he’d heard correctly.

Evie rose, maintaining steady eye contact. She grasped his hands resting on her cheeks and whispered, "I’ll be yours, Ezra."

Without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her. Evie smiled against his lips, feeling the warmth of the moment. It was a soft kiss, yet it carried a weight of promise.

When Ezra pulled back as he realized something and he quickly apologized, "I should have asked you out in a better place and time."

Evie shook her head firmly. They had already wasted enough time; this moment was perfect just as it was.

Rising on her toes, she cupped his cheeks and pulled him in for another kiss. "This is perfect," she whispered against his lips.